VIDEO: Highlights from 10-3 win over Saint Xavier
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Concordia University Baseball team has extended its season for at least one more day. The 24th-ranked Bulldogs mounted a significant early advantage with the aid of a four-run second inning while defeating Saint Xavier University (Ill.), 10-3, in a Tuesday (May 16) elimination game in the 2023 NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Bulldogs were scheduled to then take on Midway University (Ky.) in another elimination game. That contest reached the bottom of the first before lightning struck. Play will resume at 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) on Wednesday from Lawrenceville, Ga.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad is playing with its season on the line after dropping a 7-4 decision at the hands of Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) on Monday. Concordia (39-17) sits one victory away from reaching 40 for the third consecutive season.
“We did a nice job early in the game offensively – had a couple big hits,” Dupic said. “The four-run inning got us a nice little comfort zone. Caden Johnson was pretty good. The ball really wasn’t on the ground much – lots of strikeouts and lazy popups. That made things easier for us defensively to be a little cleaner. Ben Coldiron did a good job too. I thought we were a hit or two from blowing it open, but Saint Xavier competed well and kept it someone tight.”
An early barrage of doubles allowed the Bulldogs to strike first while up against Saint Xavier starting pitcher Caleb Ziehr. In the first, Joey Grabanski followed a Jaidan Quinn double with a two-bagger of his own. The second inning then set the tone for the remainder of the morning. A Carlos Benavides bunt single chased home a run with the help of an errant throw, leading into a two-run single for Quinn and a sac fly for Grabanski. Concordia kept the Cougars at arm’s length the rest of the way by adding two runs in the third, one in the fifth and two in the seventh.
Saint Xavier (31-27) managed to keep the Bulldogs in the ballpark, but the Lawrenceville Bracket’s No. 3 seed collected 13 hits and worked five walks in a solid offensive display. Quinn and Ty Nekoliczak both went 3-for-5 while Ben Berg went 2-for-4 with a double. In addition, Teyt Johnson reached base twice and knocked in two runs while Jay Adams singled and walked twice. On the bases, Concordia wreaked some havoc with five steals, including a double steal that saw Alec Blakestad swipe home in the third. Blakestad and Nekoliczak notched two stolen bases apiece.
The win went to Bulldog ace Caden Johnson, who had a shutout working through five innings. He wound up tossing 5.2 frames with two runs allowed on seven hits and three walks to go along with seven strikeouts. Ben Coldiron entered the game in a high leverage spot in the bottom of the sixth when the bases were loaded with two outs. Coldiron froze Daniel Barrios for strike three to keep the Concordia lead at 8-2 at the time. An Omaha area native like Johnson, Coldiron got the game’s final 10 outs (five on strikeouts) and earned the save. Johnson and Coldiron combined for 12 strikeouts.
The opposition did manage to rack up 10 hits, but only two went for extra bases. In addition, the Bulldogs played error-free ball one day after defensive miscues prevented a potential win over Freed-Hardeman. Champion of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament, Saint Xavier mixed and matched with five different hurlers on Tuesday while eventually being eliminated from the postseason. Sean Haddlesey paced the offense by going 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Dupic had confidence his team would play at a higher level than it did on Monday. Said Dupic, “At this point in the year, there’s not a lot I can do or say. We’ve practiced all year and played 55 games. If we make plays, have good at bats and make pitches, it’s going to go well. If not, it’s not going to go well. They know what we have to do in order to keep playing.”
The win over Saint Xavier pushed Concordia into game 6 of the Lawrenceville Bracket. The Bulldogs got underway versus fourth-seeded Midway before the storm rolled in. Concordia starter Christian Gutierrez induced three flyouts in a 1-2-3 top of the first. Eagle pitcher Dylan Burton then retired the first two Concordia hitters he faced. Play was stopped before Joey Grabanski could step into the box.
The updated Lawrenceville Bracket schedule is included below. The Concordia-Midway game will pick up where it left off beginning at 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) on Wednesday. The winner will advance to play No. 2 seed Freed-Hardeman at 2 p.m. CT (3 p.m. ET) in game 7 of the bracket. Because of Tuesday’s adjustment, game 8 will now be played on Thursday. The last team left standing between Concordia, Freed-Hardeman and Midway will have the task of attempting to beat top seed Georgia Gwinnett College twice on its home field.
The Bulldogs have improved to 11-8 all-time in their five NAIA opening round appearances. Concordia has won at least one game in each of those trips to nationals – all of which have come during Dupic’s tenure.
2023 NAIA Opening Round – Lawrenceville Bracket
Site: Grizzly Baseball Complex | Lawrenceville, Ga.
Live Webcasts: https://ggcathletics.com/watch/
Live Stats: PrestoStats
All times are EDT
Monday, May 15
Game 1 – (4) Midway def. (5) Saint Xavier, 6-5
Game 2 – (2) Freed-Hardeman def. (3) Concordia, 7-4
Game 3 – (1) Georgia Gwinnett def. (4) Midway, 18-1
Tuesday, May 16
Game 4 – (3) Concordia def. (5) Saint Xavier, 10-3
Game 5 – (1) Georgia Gwinnett def. (2) Freed-Hardeman, 21-4
Game 6 – (3) Concordia vs. (4) Midway (suspended in B1 due to lightning)
Wednesday, May 17
Game 6 – (3) Concordia vs. (4) Midway, 11 a.m. (resumes in B1)
Game 7 – (2) Freed-Hardeman vs. Game 6 Winner, 3 p.m.
Game 8 – Will be played Wednesday if Freed-Hardeman wins Game 7, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 18
Game 8 – (1) Georgia Gwinnett vs. Game 7 Winner (if Concordia/Midway), 11 a.m.
Game 9 – Game 8 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser (if necessary), 3 p.m.